Canadian Eric Lamaze Surges Ahead on the Budweiser
American Invitational Qualifying List

Tampa, FL - March 10, 2008 –

Eric Lamaze and Hickstead competing in Sunday's $150,000 CN U.S. Open CSIO 5* at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival Photo: Kenneth Kraus

Canadian rider Eric Lamaze solidified his grip on the top spot of the list of qualified riders for this year’s $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational following his strong second place finish in the richest event of the season to date at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

Lamaze finished second to Kent Farrington in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open, and now has over $56,000 towards Invitational qualifying. Farrington, with the win yesterday, has vaulted from off the charts to twentieth place on the money won list.

Defending champion Beezie Madden, who receives an automatic bid, is fourth on the money list.

The city of Tampa, Florida, will again play host to the Tampa Equestrian Festival, starting on March 19, 2008, at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

The $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational CSI 4*, under the lights at Raymond James Stadium, on April 5, 2008, is again the grand finale to this year’s festival.

Over the years, the American Invitational has been recognized as the crown jewel of American show jumping, and year in and year out, it has been one of its toughest tests.

The $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, at Raymond James Stadium, brings together a star studded international group of equestrians to compete for one of the richest purses in all of show jumping. The unique invitation-only format assures the best possible starting field.

The following events remain as qualifiers for this year’s Budweiser American Invitational:

March 13: $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 at week nine of the CN WEF
March16: $200,000 CN Worldwide Grand Prix CSI-4* W at week nine of the CN WEF
March 20: $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup at week one of the Tampa Equestrian Festival
March 23: $75,000 Bob Thomas Grand Prix of Florida at week one of the Tampa Equestrian Festival
March 27: $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup at week two of the Tampa Equestrian Festival
March 30: $75,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier & the Just World Grand Prix of Tampa CSI 3* W at week two of the Tampa Equestrian Festival
April 2: $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup, CSI at week three of the Tampa Equestrian Festival
Here, are the latest standings for this year’s contest, based on money won in WEF qualifying events.

THE LATEST BUDWEISER AMERICAN INVITATIONAL STANDINGS AS OF 3/9/08

PLACE TOTAL RIDER

* 34550 BEEZIE MADDEN
2 56500 ERIC LAMAZE
3 39950 NICOLE SIMPSON
4 35250 WILLIAM SIMPSON
5 34300 HILLARY DOBBS
6 32393.33 JEFFERY WELLES
7 27060 LAURA KRAUT
8 24300 RODRIGO PESSOA
9 21000 MAC CONE
10 20783.33 CHRIS KAPPLER
11 20600 PETER WYLDE
12 16500 IAN MILLAR
13 15000 PETER CHARLES
14 14100 LAUREN HOUGH
15 13525 MCLAIN WARD
16 12540 GEORGINA BLOOMBERG
17 12000 FRANCIS TRES ROIG
18 11560 BRIANNE GOUTAL
19 11100 TODD MINIKUS
20 10600 KENT FARRINGTON
21 9750 DARRIN DLIN
22 9000 CANDICE KING
23 8400 JAMES BENEDETTO
24 8033.33 DARRAGH KERINS
25 8000 KATE LEVY
26 7650 ANNE KURSINSKI
27 7000 LISA SILVERMAN
28 6960 DANIELLE TORANO
29 6750 CARA RAETHER
30 6600 MARILYN LITTLE
6600 NORMAN DELLO JOIO
6600 YANN CANDELE
33 5900 AMY MILLAR
34 5400 MARIO DESLAURIERS
35 4760 CHARLIE JAYNE
36 4400 KAREN CUDMORE
37 4075 LOUIS JACOBS
38 4000 ALI NILFORUSHAN
39 3900 ANGELA MOORE
40 3600 SHANE SWEETNAM

* Qualified at AI 2007

 

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